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Strategy for Mainstreaming Flood Risk Reduction in Society
Thursday 8 May 2008, 16:00
(Session Leader:  Dr. K. Takeuchi, International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management, Tsukuba, Japan)

Mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction is the urgent agenda of the world to adapt itself to higher risk environment due to increasing societal vulnerability and hydro-meteorological hazards by global warming. The reduction of CO2 emission was agreed in the G8 of Heiligendamm, Germany in June 2007 “to consider seriously the decisions made by the European Union, Canada and Japan which include at least a halving of global emissions by 2050”. It is an important move but even if it is fully realized by the mid 21st century, the climate change will continue and the human being has to face the intensified hydro-meteorological extremes. Adaptation to the higher risk environment is an urgent agenda of the world and a strong political commitment is necessary to make flood risk reduction as the main stream of the nation. As the Hyogo Framework for Action declares, disaster risk reduction should be a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. How can we realize this priority action and mainstream flood risk reduction in society? This is the theme of this IFI (International Flood Initiative) session. The speakers nominated by the main partners of IFI: UNESCO, WMO, ISDR, UNU and ICHARM will propose the concrete strategic actions from their experiences and insights on (1) how in climate adaptation, (2) how with donors, (3) how with science and technology, (4) what are the local examples and (5) what are the indicators to measure? The session will be followed by the IFI Technology Session to focus on the latest advancement of technology to support the commitment of nations.

Panelists:

• Avinash Tyagi (WMO, Director of Division of Hydrology and Water Resources) Main-streaming climate variability and change in flood risk management
• Sálvano Briceño (ISDR Executive Director) Integrating flood risk reduction in national policies for climate adaptation and the Hyogo Framework for Action
• Andreas Schumann (UNESCO) Barriers to prevent science and technology achievements to put to practice
• Erich Plate (UNU) Examples of mainstreaming flood preparedness in local communities
• Kuniyoshi Takeuchi (ICHARM) Indicators and standards to monitor and promote the flood preparedness of society

Presentations:

• Climate Change and Variability Presentation (pps, 6.09MB)
• Barrirers to Prevent Sciences and Technology Achievements to put in Practice pps (7.68MB) | pdf (1.29MB)
• Toronto Presentation pps (7.68MB) | pdf (700KB)
• Strategy for mainstreaming flood risk reduction in society Presentation (pps, 1.50MB)

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